Mental Health Steering Committee Takes Steps on Police Reform

An expansion of mental health training and services aimed to prove crisis response for individuals with mental illness as part of the city’s ongoing police reform was announced on Monday. The program will provide free mental health awareness training to reduce stigma and better recognize the symptoms of a mental health crisis to support improved emergency response. In addition, the city is investing in Smart 911, to support accurate, timely and effective dispatch of emergency resources during a mental health crisis. The Mental Health Outreach Project is part of the city’s efforts to improve crisis response through trauma-informed practices to better identify, serve and ultimately treat those individuals with mental health challenges during a crisis. Last year, nearly 600 community members in Austin, Garfield Park and North Lawndale received free mental health awareness training to reduce stigma and provide information on emergency response resources.